China announces benefits for disgruntled Tibetan monks, nuns

BEIJING: China has announced new social benefits like pensions and medical insurance for Tibetan clergy, in what appears to be an attempt to pacify the unrest in the region as manifested by a series of self-immolations by monks and nuns.

The Tibet autonomous region will offer pension and medical insurance policies to monks and nuns at all monasteries starting from next year under a new policy issued here this week, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

All registered clergy aged 18 and above can apply for free for the policies.

"It's a major approach to improve Tibetan people's livelihood," said Wu Yingjie, deputy secretary of Tibet's regional committee of the ruling Communist Party of China.

The clause about the subsidy bonus is an important stimulus for monasteries and their clergy to abide by law and maintain social stability, said Lhapa, a monk at Jokhang Temple.

Bonus subsidies will also be awarded to monasteries and clergy that are honoured by the local government for law abidance and patriotism -- including acts to maintain social stability, it said.

The new pension and medical scheme was announced amid reports of widespread unrest among Tibetan monks and nuns who were protesting "repressive" measures by the Chinese authorities.

Nine monks and two nuns have committed self immolations in the recent months demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from his self-exile in Dharmashala.